Ftrace and Systemtap
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From: swb6 on 31 Mar 2010 14:10 Hi, I am currently writing up my dissertation based on dynamic tracing and reducing the learning curve to understanding the UNIX kernel. I used two dynamic tracing technologies (Systemtap and Dtrace) to monitor some virtual machines on a network. Whilst going over my initial review of technologies in the area of dynamic tracing I realised I had underestimated ftrace, and even dismissed it as not being dynamic. However I read hear (http://lwn.net/Articles/343766/) that you were as of July last year trying to introduce a patch that would allow ftrace the ability to dynamically trace. Also it would be completely instrumented from the command line without the need to compile a kernel module al la Systemtap. My question is do you think Systemtap will be replaced by ftrace in the future if so I feel I may need to include this fact in my updated technology review. Than you for your time Steve Brown -- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo(a)vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/
From: Tim Bird on 31 Mar 2010 15:30
On 03/31/2010 10:36 AM, swb6(a)aber.ac.uk wrote: > Hi, > I am currently writing up my > dissertation based on dynamic tracing and reducing the learning curve to > understanding the UNIX kernel. I used two dynamic tracing technologies > (Systemtap and Dtrace) to monitor some virtual machines on a network. > Whilst going over my initial review of technologies in the area of dynamic > tracing I realised I had underestimated ftrace, and even dismissed it as > not being dynamic. However I read hear (http://lwn.net/Articles/343766/) > that you were as of July last year trying to introduce a patch that would > allow ftrace the ability to dynamically trace. Also it would be completely > instrumented from the command line without the need to compile a kernel > module al la Systemtap. > > My question is do you think Systemtap will be replaced by ftrace in the > future if so I feel I may need to include this fact in my updated > technology review. Systemtap addresses a different set of needs than ftrace. Ftrace has been dynamic for some time, but in a different way than Systemtap. I don't see either system going away soon. ============================= Tim Bird Architecture Group Chair, CE Linux Forum Senior Staff Engineer, Sony Corporation of America ============================= -- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo(a)vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/ |